MINOT — Hours after Normand “Blackie” Labbe’s 200-year-old farmhouse burned, the 83-year-old father of eight shrugged off the loss.

“Nobody was hurt,” Labbe said. “Nobody.”

Despite the Christmas afternoon fire that destroyed his home, Labbe went to work Thursday morning. He smiled as customers and friends walked into Blackie’s Farm Fresh Produce in Auburn, many expressing sympathy and offering help.

“We lost nothing important,” Labbe said.

It could have been worse.

The 12-room house at the corner of Jackson Hill Road and Center Minot Hill Road had lost power during the weekend ice storm. Normand and his wife, Jackie, had managed with power from a generator, hosting an extended family of 50 or so people on Christmas Eve.

“Every room in the house was filled,” son Mike Labbe said. It was empty, though, at about 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. Family had met at other homes. When power was restored before 3 p.m., Mike went over to shut off the generator and switch back to Central Maine Power.

About 15 minutes after he left, a friend called him to say the farmhouse was burning.

When Mike Labbe returned, smoke was pouring out from beneath the roof. He got the dog to safety and pulled out a fire extinguisher.

“I tried to fight it,” he said. He soon realized he was outmatched. Moments later, firetrucks began arriving. Firefighters from seven towns worked to put out the flames.

“The firefighters did an unbelievable job,” Mike Labbe said.

They knocked down the fire quickly. Before soaking the place with water, they moved belongings to safety and covered others with tarps. They dumped about 3,000 gallons of water on the fire, mostly on the second floor.

On Thursday morning, the house was still standing, but much of the second floor was charred, soot-stained and open to the weather.

It was uncertain Thursday whether the house would be a total loss, Mike Labbe said.

“That will depend on the insurance,” he said. On Thursday, he and brother Conrad hung out by a wood stove in a rear room of the house. They met with investigators and adjusters. And they mourned their childhood home.

“We’re all grown and have our own houses,” Mike Labbe said. “But this is our home.”

Normand and Jackie raised their eight children at the farm. They also created a haven for dozens more young people, who came and worked the farm in return for a safe place to be for a while.

“There were always other kids here,” Labbe said. They, too, will feel the loss.

Any loss will be tempered by what was saved, Mike Labbe said, echoing his dad. Mike and his brother were able to remove family photos, preserving them from the smoke and water. Valuables were locked away in a safe.

Offers of help began arriving before the fire was out.

“My phone has been ringing nonstop,” Mike Labbe said. Some have offered to help with the fire cleanup. Other have offered their help, without knowing what might be needed.

“You feel the community,” Labbe said. “It’s like they all came together to help.”

dhartill@sunjournal.com

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